The British Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (BSCTA) has announced the winners of its coaching awards at the 45th Annual Awards Dinner, winners included Nova Centurion’s Bill Furniss who was named BSCTA Coach of the Year.

The Awards Dinner, which is sponsored by the Kellogg’s asa Awards, was a star spangled evening with young and old, elite and grass root, all mixing together to celebrate what has been an impressive year for swimming in Britain.

Furniss won the Coach of the Year award after helping Rebecca Adlington to one of the most impressive Olympic performances in recent years. The Double Olympic Champion Adlington, after her triumph at the Games in Beijing, stated: “if it hadn’t been for him [Furniss], I wouldn’t be here today.”

The Award, which was sponsored by Speedo, also recognises the World club record that was achieved earlier this year and for his contribution to the women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay team.

The BSCTA Disability Coach of the Year award was given to Billy Pye, who coached seven of the 2008 Paralympic athletes, helped double Paralympic Champion Eleanor Simmonds and Four time Paralympic Champion Dave Roberts to their inspiring performances in Beijing.

Kevin Renshaw (Loughborough University), Dave McNulty (Derwentside) and Sean Kelly (Stockport Metro) all shared the BSCTA Coaching Award of Excellence.

The Award, which was sponsored by SwimTec UK, was given to the elite coaches in recognition of the performances of Olympic silver medallist David Davies, Olympic bronze medallist Joanne Jackson and Olympic silver medallist Keri-Anne Payne and Olympic bronze medallist Cassie Patten.

Gallica coach Rob Greenwood won the BSCTA Youth Coach of the Year for the achievements of Daniel Sliwinski and Robert Bale at the World Junior Championships and the European Junior Championships.

BSCTA National Organiser Brian McGuinness began the celebrations by reminding everyone that the successes were not solely at the Olympics. While Team GB finished as the top European nation in the Beijing pool, the ParalympicsGB swimming team finished fourth in the Cube and Britain’s swimmers were also 5th at the World Junior Championships and top nation at the European Juniors Championships.

-ENDS-

Award Winners:

Bill Furniss – Nottinghamshire – BSCTA Coach of the Year
Dave McNulty – Derwentside – BSCTA Coaching Award of Excellence
Sean Kelly – Stockport – BSCTA Coaching Award of Excellence
Kevin Renshaw – Sunderland / Loughborough – BSCTA Coaching Award of Excellence
Billy Pye – Swansea – BSCTA Disability Coach of the Year
Rob Greenwood – Preston / Lancashire – BSCTA Youth Coach of the Year
Patrick Miley, Garioch / NE Scotland – BSCTA Alan Hime Memorial Award
Mick Geer – Tunbridge Wells / SE England – BSCTA Lifetime Achievement Award
Jon Rudd – Plymouth – BSCTA Fellow
Eileen Adams – Glasgow / Aberdeen / Scotland – BSCTA Life Membership